My rescue and recesitation of a 71 spring green 40.

[VTX78FJ40]

Hey folks. Been away a while. Had a red 78 that I sold a couple of years ago and have regretted it every since. So, I’m looking again. I want another. I found one here in town I think I could get a good price on. Need some input. It’s a white 71, all original. The owner pulled the motor out years ago but never got around to messing with it again. He says he has everything. Haven’t talked price with him yet but I think I could get it pretty reasonable.

 

[VTX78FJ40]

Most of my knowledge was tied in with my 78, which was my first experience with a cruiser. I learned a lot, but I know this is a different animal. Three on the tree, F engine instead of 2F, drums up front, etc.

 

[kevos37]

Wow! Now that's a bumper!

 

[Living in the Past]

I would get it rolling and get it up on solid ground. The way the tires are buried I would be worried it been flooded and the axles and any other part of the drive train are rusted up and trash. I see your in Texas hopefully this isn't somewhere it was flood last year when Harvey hit.

 

[VTX78FJ40]

No flooding here. It’s up under a car port, so it’s at least covered. But still exposed to a lot of the elements. It’s been sitting for literally years with the engine out. It would be a big time project for sure.

 

[VTX78FJ40]

And that bumper is hideous.

 

[Old Red]

You don't know how much it costs. Yet you want random people's input on whether to buy it.

Logical.

 

[VTX78FJ40]

Trying to get some input. As I said, don’t know the ins and outs of the older ones. There is a lot of knowledgeable folks on here that don’t mind providing some insight based on their experiences.

And then there are also some cranky old peckerwoods...

 

[Old Red]

Input and insight on what?

All you have you announced to us---twice---is that you think you can buy this for a "good" "reasonable" price. There are no question marks in any of your posts.

Are you trying to find out what this 40 is worth, without actually asking what this 40 is worth?

 

[Aloha Jen]

Worth no more then $2k.

 

[bikersmurf]

A 2F and a 4 speed will essentially bolt in. The older sheet metal is thicker. I'd persue it and buy it if the price is right. I'd buy it, for the body and frame even if the entire drivetrain was shot... for the right price and if within driving distance.

 

[VTX78FJ40]

Ok, so maybe I should have been more specific. I’m wondering if it’s going to be worth the obvious obstacles. It hasn’t run in years. There are a lot of question marks as to what is good and what isn’t.

As far as the price goes, he said to make him an offer. You are right, I do not know what it’s worth.

I guess specific questions I have would be:

Is the column shift 3 speed a lot worse for general driving and occasional road trips?

How does the F motor compare to the 2F?

Are there any other specific concerns, like the another user mentioned about the axle, that I should look for specifically?

 

[pjohnson]

Looks good to me. Nice patina. Unless there's significant rust in the body or frame, buy it. You can procure whatever you need for whatever directon you want to go.

What's your plan?

 

[VTX78FJ40]

I like the idea of getting a 2F and 4 speed to drop in it. I am pretty familiar with that setup. I want a rig I can hop in and go places. Also want to stay as original as I can. Not at all interested in dropping a 350 in. I’d like to load up and go camping etc.

It would be a hobby of sorts for me. At least until it was in decent working order.

 

[1969FJ]

Too bad you lost the first one, pretty common after FJ40 sale to be depressed....

 

[thebigredrocker]

You better snap that up. Appears to be rot free, rear quarters and sil look good! I would drop an F in it, buff that awesome paint and run it as a karma oozing classic 40. I’d probably restore the lid. Perhaps get a second bezel, paint it and see if you like the look. What say you @wngrog

You belong here—> Patina Appreciation: Show Us Your Rusty Land Cruiser!

 

[Maximus924]

Worth no more then $2k.

The tops alone on these sell for a grand all day long in California... In Northern cali that would be listed for sale for $4500 and probably sell quick... quicker if the engine ran (or was even in it) but thats not a deal breaker, the F is more nostalgic than great...
buy it. I don't see FJ40's getting any cheaper........

 

[thebigredrocker]

Not for everyone, but you can take rust stains off the paint if that suits your fancy. I use Permatex “rust dissolver gel”

 

[thebigredrocker]

It’s a white 71

Just re-read your post. It looks like capri blue to me.

 

[Aloha Jen]

The tops alone on these sell for a grand all day long in California... In Northern cali that would be listed for sale for $4500 and probably sell quick.

The OP asked for vague input, so I gave him vague input. $2k is what I paid for my non running fj40....and mine wasn’t buried in dirt to the bottoms of the rear wheels or have a freeway guardrail for a front bumper! Not that there’s anything wrong with that, too each his own. The OP can pay whatever he wants for it, good deals/reasonable prices on things are completely subjective anyways.